nz brand review
ZIWI Peak Dog Food Review (2026): Is NZ's Premium Brand Worth the Price?
An honest, independent review of ZIWI Peak dog food — covering ingredients, nutrition, NZ pricing, and whether the premium is justified.
The short version
ZIWI Peak is genuinely excellent dog food — arguably the best commercially available in New Zealand. The ingredients are ethically sourced NZ meats, the air-drying process preserves nutrients better than kibble extrusion, and the nutritional profile is outstanding. The catch is price: you’re looking at $8–12 per day for a medium dog. If you can afford it, your dog will thrive on it. If you can’t, that’s not a moral failing — there are good alternatives at every budget.
PawPick rating: 9/10 — superb food, limited only by price accessibility.
What is ZIWI Peak?
ZIWI Peak is a New Zealand pet food company based in Mount Maunganui. They make air-dried and canned dog and cat food using ethically sourced NZ ingredients — free-range meats, wild-caught fish, and green-lipped mussels. The brand has become NZ’s most well-known premium pet food export, sold in over 30 countries.
The air-drying process is their headline feature. Unlike traditional kibble (which is extruded at high temperatures, potentially degrading nutrients), ZIWI’s food is slowly air-dried over time. This preserves more of the natural nutrition while creating a shelf-stable product that doesn’t need refrigeration.
Product range
ZIWI Peak offers several dog food formats:
Air-Dried (their flagship)
- Recipes: Beef, Lamb, Mackerel & Lamb, Venison, Tripe & Lamb, Free-Range Chicken, East Cape (limited ingredient)
- Sizes: 454g, 1kg, 2.5kg, 4kg
- Feeding: Can be fed as a complete meal or used as a topper/mixer
- Protein: 36–45% depending on recipe
Canned Wet Food
- Recipes: Same core proteins as air-dried
- Sizes: 170g, 390g cans
- Protein: 38–42%
- Best for: Dogs who prefer wet food, mixing with kibble, or hydration boost
Freeze-Dried Raw Boosters
- Format: Single-protein boosters designed to add nutrition to any meal
- Use: Topper, training treat, or travel food
Ingredient quality — what’s actually in it
This is where ZIWI genuinely excels. Let’s look at the Beef recipe as an example:
Beef recipe ingredients: Beef, beef heart, beef kidney, beef tripe, beef liver, beef lung, New Zealand green-lipped mussel, beef bone, lecithin, inulin (from chicory), dried kelp, minerals, vitamins, preserved with mixed tocopherols.
What you’ll notice:
- Every ingredient is identifiable — no “meat meal,” no “animal derivatives,” no mystery fillers
- Organ meats are included — heart, kidney, liver, lung. These are nutrient-dense and reflect what dogs would eat in a whole-prey diet
- Green-lipped mussel — a NZ superfood that supports joint health. Naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids and glucosamine
- No grains, no potatoes, no legumes — this is a meat-based food with minimal plant content
- Natural preservatives — mixed tocopherols (vitamin E), not artificial preservatives
Sourcing
ZIWI sources from NZ farms that meet their ethical standards:
- Free-range, grass-fed beef and lamb
- Free-range chicken
- Wild-caught NZ fish (mackerel, hoki)
- Venison from NZ deer farms
The company is transparent about sourcing — more so than most pet food brands. They’re not organic or certified free-range to any specific standard, but they make verifiable claims about NZ provenance.
Nutritional profile
Guaranteed analysis (Beef Air-Dried)
- Protein: 36% (minimum)
- Fat: 33% (minimum)
- Fibre: 2% (maximum)
- Moisture: 14% (maximum)
On a dry-matter basis, protein is approximately 42% — well above what most kibble offers and appropriate for an active adult dog.
How it compares
| Brand | Protein (as-fed) | Fat (as-fed) | Price/day (20kg dog) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIWI Peak Air-Dried | 36% | 33% | $9–12 |
| K9 Natural Freeze-Dried | 48% | 33% | $8–11 |
| Black Hawk Original | 25% | 15% | $2.50–3.50 |
| Ivory Coat Grain-Free | 30% | 16% | $3.50–4.50 |
| Purina Pro Plan | 28% | 18% | $2–3 |
ZIWI’s protein and fat levels are significantly higher than conventional kibble. The high fat content means you feed less volume per meal — a 4kg bag of ZIWI lasts much longer than a 4kg bag of kibble.
The price question
Let’s be honest: ZIWI Peak is expensive. Here’s what it costs to feed a medium dog (20 kg) in NZ as of March 2026:
- Air-Dried (4kg bag, ~$120–140): Lasts approximately 12–16 days = $8.50–12/day
- Canned (12x 390g, ~$60–72): Lasts approximately 6–8 days = $8–12/day
- Mixed feeding (ZIWI topper + quality kibble): $4–6/day
Is it worth it?
That depends on your values and budget:
Worth it if:
- You prioritise ingredient quality above all else
- Your dog has allergies or sensitivities and ZIWI’s limited-ingredient recipes resolve them
- You want NZ-made food and are willing to pay the premium
- You have a small dog (costs scale with size — a 5 kg dog costs ~$3–4/day)
- You use ZIWI as a topper/mixer rather than sole food
Hard to justify if:
- You have a large or giant breed — costs become prohibitive
- You have multiple dogs
- Your dog does equally well on quality mid-range food
- Your household budget is tight — there’s no shame in feeding good-quality conventional food
The topper strategy
Many NZ dog owners use ZIWI as a meal topper rather than sole food. Add a tablespoon of air-dried ZIWI to a bowl of quality kibble (Black Hawk, Ivory Coat) and you get much of the nutritional benefit at a fraction of the cost. This is a smart approach and ZIWI themselves suggest it.
What dogs is ZIWI best for?
Great match:
- Dogs with food allergies — limited ingredient recipes (East Cape, single-protein options) are excellent for elimination diets
- Picky eaters — the air-dried format has a strong meat scent that most dogs find irresistible
- Senior dogs — high protein supports muscle maintenance; green-lipped mussel supports joints
- Small breeds — cost is manageable and small dogs often benefit from nutrient-dense food
- Dogs transitioning from raw — similar nutritional profile without the raw handling
Less ideal for:
- Dogs that need to lose weight — the high fat content means careful portioning is essential
- Very large breeds — purely a cost issue, not a quality issue
- Puppies in rapid growth phases — while ZIWI is labelled for all life stages, large-breed puppies may need more careful calcium/phosphorus ratios. Consult your vet
ZIWI Peak vs the competition
ZIWI Peak vs K9 Natural
Both are premium NZ brands. K9 Natural is freeze-dried raw (you rehydrate it); ZIWI is air-dried (feed as-is or rehydrate). K9 Natural has slightly higher protein. ZIWI has a broader product range and wider retail availability. Pricing is similar. Both are excellent choices — it often comes down to which format your dog prefers.
Related: ZIWI Peak vs K9 Natural
ZIWI Peak vs Black Hawk
Completely different price brackets. ZIWI is premium NZ-made air-dried food; Black Hawk is mid-range Australian kibble. If budget allows, ZIWI is the better food. But Black Hawk is a perfectly good food — the gap in health outcomes for most dogs is smaller than the price gap suggests.
ZIWI Peak vs raw feeding
ZIWI’s nutritional profile is similar to a balanced raw diet but without the handling risks, freezer space requirements, or preparation time. If you’re philosophically aligned with raw feeding but want convenience, ZIWI is an excellent compromise. If you enjoy the raw feeding process and have the setup, raw may be cheaper.
Where to buy ZIWI Peak in NZ
- PetDirect — typically the best online pricing. No affiliate programme (we make nothing linking here)
- Pet Circle — ships from Australia, free NZ delivery over $49
- Animates — NZ’s largest pet store chain, stocks most ZIWI recipes
- Petstock — growing NZ presence, stocks ZIWI
- Raw Essentials — 17 NZ stores, stocks ZIWI alongside raw options
- Specialty pet stores — most independent pet shops stock ZIWI
- Supermarkets — not available in NZ supermarkets
Tip: Buy the largest bag you can store. The 4kg air-dried bags are significantly cheaper per gram than the 1kg bags.
Common questions
Can I feed ZIWI Peak to puppies?
Yes — ZIWI is formulated for all life stages. However, large-breed puppies have specific calcium and phosphorus needs during rapid growth. Consult your vet if you have a large-breed puppy.
Does ZIWI need to be rehydrated?
No — air-dried food can be fed as-is. Some owners add warm water to release more aroma and make it easier for older dogs to eat. Either way is fine.
How long does an opened bag last?
ZIWI recommends using opened air-dried food within 8 weeks. Store in a cool, dry place with the bag resealed. In NZ’s climate, this is rarely an issue for most dog sizes.
Is ZIWI actually better than kibble?
In terms of ingredient quality and nutrient density, yes — meaningfully so. Whether that translates to a noticeably healthier dog depends on many factors (genetics, exercise, overall care). Most owners who switch to ZIWI report improved coat condition, smaller stools, and better energy levels. Anecdotal, but consistent.
Bottom line
ZIWI Peak is the gold standard for commercially available dog food in New Zealand. The ingredients are transparent, NZ-sourced, and genuinely high quality. The air-drying process is a real advantage over conventional kibble extrusion. The nutritional profile is excellent.
The only honest criticism is price. At $9–12/day for a medium dog, it’s a significant ongoing cost. But if you can afford it — or if you use it as a topper strategy — it’s hard to do better.
Our recommendation: If budget allows, ZIWI Peak is worth it. If it doesn’t, consider the topper approach: a quality kibble base with ZIWI air-dried mixed in. Your dog gets the benefit without the full premium price.
This review is updated regularly as pricing and product ranges change. Last reviewed March 2026.